Really enjoyed the thermal experience in Rotorua. Visited a living maori thermal village called Tewhakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao!!! Mouthful! Had a tour,saw a maori Performance and tried 'hangi' meal which was basically roast chicken with veg cooked underground using the thermal heat! Wish this blog had smell'o'vision as all this volcanic region has a sulphur/eggy whiff!! I (simon) got up at 3:30am tuesday to watch England v france in the footy, drew but totally worth the lack of sleep!! From here we travelled to matamata which is now famous for hobbiton, the movie set from lord of the rings. After a dip in a 39 degrees thermal pool at our site we had an early night and got up ready for the hobit tour.Was worth the money,the tour guide was really good,knew everything about the set,films,and actors! we took loads of pictures and even got to sneak home some fake leaves from the set!! Now up in Coromandel which is stunning, hopefully going to visit cathedral cove and hot water beach in next few days.